Lock washer



F. WENGLAND LcK WASHER- Dec. 14, 1937.

Filed Aug` 8, 1955 and Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,102,495 LOCK WASHER.

Frank.W.-England, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Illinois Toolv Works, Chicago, Ill., a corporation f IllilliS Application August 8,

' 15 claims.

My invention relates generally to lock washers and methods of producing them,` and particularly to lock washers of the type having overlapping portions which present locking or work engaging edges.

Itis an object of my invention to produce a lock washer of the above mentioned overlapping type in a manner which reduces to va minimum the necessity of distorting washer stock.

To this end, my inventioncontemplates a new and improved method whereby a washerl blank is provided with a plurality of marginal slits, and

, portions of the stock thus several are then shifted inwardly so as to prevent overlapping stock portions. y

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and improved overlapping type of washer having bothinner and outer work engaging teeth.

Still another object of my invention is-to provide an improved method of making lock washers, which contemplates theprovision of an annular washer blank'having irregular inner and outer peripheries, and subsequently subjecting portions of these peripheries to a shifting operation so as to produce an annular type lock washer having work engaging teeth projecting on opposite sides of the medial plane of the washer.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages will lbe more apparent from the following detailed description -when lconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of a lock washer blank formed in accordance with the teachings of my invention, namely, with irregular inner and outer peripheries;

Figure 2 discloses said blank after the peripheral portions thereof have been so shifted as to produce overlapping sections', and presenting work engaging edges positioned on opposite sides of the medial plane of the washer;

Figure 3 is an,enlarged elevational view of the edge of the washer shown in Figure 2 to more clearly illustrate the overlapping washer sections;

Flgure'4 is a modified washer blank also constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention; Y

Figure 5 discloses the blank of Figure 4 after the inner and outer severed lsections have been 50 shifted-so as to produce the overlapping effect;

and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the edge of the washer shown in Figure 5 to more clearly illustrate the overlapping washer.. sections.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail 1935, serial No. 35,251

wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts vthroughout the various figures, it willbe seen that one embodiment of my invention contemplates an. overlapping prong washer of the type shown in Figure 2. This 5 washer is designatedgenerally by the numeral III and comprises a plurality of outer overlapping sections I2 and a plurality of inner overlapping sections I4. The overlapping sections I2 produce oppositely disposed work engaging edges or portions I6 and I8, while the inner overlapping sections I4 present work engaging edges or portions 20 and 22.

The washer is preferably produced by forming a blank of the type shown in Figure 1 from suitable fiat spring stock. ItV will be noted that this blank is formed with virregular inner `and outer peripheries, namely, peripheries having teeth projecting inwardly and outwardly.

Outer slits 24 and inner slits 26 are provided to facilitate the subsequent overlapping operation. Following the formation of the blank shown in Figure 1, the ratchetlike teeth along the inner margin are exed downwardly and the ratchetlikev teeth along the outer margin are exed upwardly a sufilcient distance to clear the adjacent portions of stock, which adjacent portions are also exed laterally to facilitate subsequent overlapping. Then the outer teeth are shifted radially inward and the inner teeth are shifted radially outward so as to produce the overlapping sections I2 and Il.. respectively, as shown in Figure 2. I prefer to form the slits 24 and 26 tangentially to an imaginary circle, the center of whichconstitutes the center of the washer. Thus, when the inner and outer teeth are shifted-to produce the overlapping eiect, the amount 'of strain or distortion experienced by the washer stock is held to a minimum It will also be noted that in practicing the method just described, only very small sections of the washer need be shifted to produce the overlapping effect. This is to be distinguished from methods of producing'overlapping prong lock washers, wherein substantially thev entire washer stock, during the overlapping process, is subjected to strains and stresses.

- In Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, I have disclosed a modified washer arrangement designated generally in Figure 5 by the numeral Illa. This washer is provided along the outer margin'with overlapping locking sections lia, and along the inner margin with overlapping locking sections Ila. The locking sections I2a comprise a series of prongs or locking elements lia bent upwardly," -55 as viewed in Figure 5, and a plurality of locking elements lila, which are superimposed by the elements Ilia. Likewise, the inner locking sections Ma comprise a plurality of locking elements 20a, which superimpose or overlap companion locking elements 22a. The elements or prongs 22a are flexed downwardly out of the mediall plane of the washer in the same way that the prongs or locking elements ltd are exed upwardly.

In producing the Washer ida, a blank is i'lrst formed as shown in Figure 4. This blank, like the blank disclosed in Figure l, is provided with irregular peripheries and a plurality of outer tangential slits Ella and a plurality of inner tangential slits 26a. The prong or locking element i611, presented to one side of the slit 2da is then bent or warped upwardly, as viewed in Figure e,

and the prong or locking element 22a is bent downwardly. The elements ita are then shifted radially inward and the elements iia shifted radially outward to produce the locking device shown in Figure 5. It will be noted that the peripheral edges of the prongs or locking elements Mia and the inner peripheral edges of the locking elements 22a. are preferably arcuate, so that, when these elements are shifted to` their final position, a loci; washer is presented having circular inner and outer peripheries.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the invention contemplates the provision of overlapping prong lock washers, which may be produced by the practice of very simple steps Without the inherent danger of subjecting the washer stock to permanent injury. In other words, the overlapping is produced by subjecting small sections of the washer stock to slight distortion. Furthermore, in the production of my improved Washer, only one of the prong sections need be shifted, the other or companion section remaining stationary. For example, in Figure 5 the outer locking elements ita remain xed "or stationary, while the locking elements or prongs Ia are shifted into superimposing relation.

This is to be distinguished from methods of producing overlapping prong lock Washers where both ofthe elements, constituting the overlapping portion, are shifted. In other words, my invention contemplates themethod of producing lock washers of the overlapping type, wherein tangential prongs are shifted radially or transversely with respect to the xed portion of the Washer stock to produce the overlapping effect. Furthermore, the invention contemplates a method wherein a washer blank is first produced having a series of ratchetlike teeth provided along at least one of the margins, and these teeth are subsequently shifted to produce the overlapping effect. original consistency of the washer stock is maintained. i

It is correct to state that the lock walhers disclosed herein, whichI are comprised of spring stock, include a series of body portions and `a plurality of teeth such as the ratchetlike teeth I6 of Figures l to 3, inclusive, each of which is bentin overlapping relation with one of the body portions along at least one margin thereof. The lock washer shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, includesgserrations or slits 24 and 26 which extend substantially half way across the radial width of the washer stock. In Figures 4 and 5, however, the tangential arrangement of the slits 24a and 26a do' not'traverse the radial 'width In practicing my'improved method, the.

of the washer stock to such a great extent.

In any event the series of body portions annu- V,claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lock washer of spring stock including a sexies of body portions and a plurality of ratchetlike teeth each positioned in overlapping relation with one of the body portions along at least one margin thereof.

' 2. A lock Washer of spring stock including a series of body portions and -a plurality of ratchetlike teeth arranged in overlapping relation with one of the body prtions along the inner and outer margins thereof. Y

`3. A lock washer of spring stock including a body and a plurality of marginal prongs arranged in overlapping relation with said body, each of said prongs having an edge tangential with respect to a circle concentric with the Washer axis.

4. A lock washer of spring stock including a body and a plurality of marginal prongs arranged in' overlapping relation with said body, along the inner and outer margins thereof, each of said prongs having an edge tangential with respect to a circle concentric with the'washer.

5. A lock washer of spring stock including a `series of lbody portions and a plurality of marginal prongs overlapping sections of the body,

said prongs presenting work engaging edges positioned out of the medial plane of the body.

6. A lock washer of spring stock including a plurality of inner and outer annularly disposed prongs, certain of said prongs having work engaging edges positionedon one side of the medial plane of the `washer and other prongs presenting edges on the opposite side of said medial plane, each prong overlapping a section of washer stoclr dierent in shape from said prongs.

7. A lock washer of spring stock including a plurality of marginal prongs tangentlally disposed with respect to a circle concentric with the washer axis and arranged in overlapping relation with respect to the washer stock along at least one margin thereof, edges of said prongs being so:

disposed as to present arcuate inner and outer washer peripheries when positionedin overlapping relation.

8. The method of producing lock washers which consists in forming a body of spring stock, form-i ing ratchetlike teeth along at least one periphery, and then shifting said ratchetlike teeth radially of the body into overlapping relation with the adjacent sections of the body.

9. The method ol' producing lock washers which consists in forming a body of spring stock, forming ratchetlike teeth along inner and outer margins thereof, and then shifting said ratchet- CII like teeth radially of the body into overlapping relation with the adjacent sections of the body. 10. The methodA of producing lock Washers which includes the steps of forming a plurality of prongs along at least one margin vof a body of spring stock tangentlally disposed with respect to the washer stock. and then shifting said prongs into overlapping relation with the adjacent section of the washer body. 1

11. The method of producing lock washers which includes. the steps of forming a plurality of tangential prongs along at least one margin thereof, said prongs being tangentially disposed with respect to the washer stock, axially shifting the free extremities of said ,prongs out of the plane of the washer body, -and shifting said free extremities into overlapping relation with said Y adjacent sections oi' the body.

12. A lock washer comprising a body, and a plurality of'marginal teeth, a portion of each of said teeth overlapping -a portion of the body. 13. A lock washer comprising a body and a plurality of marginal teeth, each of said teeth being bent toward and overlapping a portion of the body. I

14. A lock washer comprising a body, and a.l

plurality of marginal teeth, said teeth being divided from the body by cuts on lines tangential to a circle concentric with the body, andeach tooth being bent toward the body and a portion thereof overlapping a portion of the body.

155A lock washer comprising-a. body, and a plurality of marginal teeth, said teeth being di vided fromthe body by cuts onv lines tangential tov a. circle concentric with the body, and each tooth being bent out of the. plane of the body and t0- fwar'd the body, a portion of each tooth overlap- -ping a'portion of the body.

FRANK w. ENGLAND. 

